ACV-48 (later CVE-48) was named Sunset by the US Navy, 23 August 1942.

Transferred to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease agreement on 19 November 1943, she was commissioned into the Royal Navy the same day as HMS Thane. In Anglo-Saxon England, "Thane" was the title of a freeman granted land by the king in return for military service, ranking above an ordinary freeman but below a nobleman. (Unofficial ship's badge and partial text courtesy of Tony Drury, Royal Navy Escort Carriers.)

Close up photo of Sunset (CVE-48) just as she enters the water at the Tacoma Yard of Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp, 15 July 1943, the 43rd ship launched at this yard. Never commissioned in the U.S. Navy, the ship became HMS Thane (D83) under Lend-Lease.

Tacoma Public Library, Richards Studio, Richards Studio 43-20.

Launching photo of Sunset (CVE-48) after she entered the water at the Tacoma Yard of Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp, 15 July 1943. She became HMS Thane (D83), 19 November 1943, under Lend-Lease.

Tacoma Public Library, Richards Studio, Richards Studio 43-21.

June 28, 1944 — HMS Thane has just passed under Lions Gate Bridge returning to Lapointe pier, Vancouver after collecting ammunition from Bremerton Navy Yard, Washington State.

(Photo digitally restored by Paul Bass).

Dedication ceremony on the flight deck, Saturday, 1 July 1944. The church service was led by The Right Reverend Sir Francis Cooke Caulfeild Heathcote, Bishop of New Westminster B.C. from 1940–1951, and the last knighted bishop in Canada. Thane's commanding officer, Captain Edmond Baker, RN read the Ship's Commissioning Warrant.

"LtCmd David Harvey Wiseman (1905–1996), Pay master Merchant Navy transferred to RN at start of WW2. He stood by the fitting out of HMS Thane in Vancouver in 1944, he is second from the left on the attached, a posed photo taken by the Vancouver Sun photographer. LtCmd Wiseman wrote the account on the back of the photo in his late eighties."

"6th June 1944. Vancouver B.C. This was a posed photo, for the press I was supposed to be reading the signal announcing the landing on D Day. The carrier was in dockyard hands, having new safety fire curtains."

HMS Thane photographed by an aircraft from HMS Puncher while at No. 1 Casualty Buoy on the Clyde, January 17, 1945.

Note: This is a rare picture in which she is wearing her pennant number (see also NS0304818). Thane is usually listed as having been assigned pennant number "D48," which in fact pertained to the British-built escort carrier HMS Campania. As these photos show, Thane was actually "D83."

A documentary photograph showing a part of the torpedo-damaged hull of escort carrier HMS Thane (D83), ex-Sunset (CVE-48).

Ex-HMS Thane alongside at Faslane. Dismantling has not long begun — her armament has already been removed. This photo was taken some time after Thane was reduced to nominal reserve status, July 21, 1945 and before her return to US custody, December 1945.

Similar view, as above.

Crew celebrating "crossing the line" ie being made to pay homage to King Neptune when a crew member crosses the equator for the first time.

Crew celebrating "crossing the line" ie being made to pay homage to King Neptune when a crew member crosses the equator for the first time.

Crew inspection on the flight deck.

Crew inspection on the flight deck.

Crew inspection on the flight deck.

"In 1944, my brother and I returned from the USA to the UK on Thane — we had been evacuated to the US in 1940. This photo shows the officer appointed to look after us, Sub Lieut. Gordon Mc Nally RNVR, with my brother beside him. I am on the right. I cannot remember who the other 3 boys were."